4 crowded GOP races could result in runoffs

Early voting shows interest in Henderson County contests

Karen Hebb, left, assistant director with the Henderson County Board of Elections, helps Kelly Spangler, chief election judge with the North Mills River voting precinct, get her election supplies ready for Tuesday's primary. The elections officials were making preparations on Monday.

Published: Monday, May 5, 2014 at 11:00 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, May 5, 2014 at 6:55 p.m.

Starting at daybreak Tuesday, Henderson County voters will head to the polls to vote for a crowded field of U.S. Senate candidates, as well to pick their choices for sheriff, register of deeds, county commissioner and a North Carolina Supreme Court associate justice.

Facts

Primary facts

Polls will be open today from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at all 35 Henderson County precincts.

For information on polling sites, visit www.hendersoncountync.org/elections or call the Board of Elections at 697-4970.

To view sample ballots and find information on local and state candidates, including profiles published in the Times-News, visit the 2014 Primary topics page on BlueRidgeNow.com.

The county's 35 voting sites will open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m.

Republican voters in N.C. House District 117 will also choose whether to return N.C. Rep. Chuck McGrady to Raleigh for a third term or replace him with GOP challenger Ronnie Edwards, a retired N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles law enforcement officer.

In Henderson County, there are 23 Republicans, five Democrats and two Libertarian hopefuls running in their respective primaries, plus three non-partisan court candidates.

Four races — for U.S. Senate, sheriff, register of deeds, and District 1 commissioner — have three or more candidates, which could lead to a runoff.

"Someone has to get 40 percent or more or there's a runoff," said Board of Elections Director Beverly Cunningham. "If there's a U.S. Senate race involved, it would move everything to July 15. If it's just a county race, the runoff would be June 24."

Sheriff Charles McDonald is battling Fletcher Police Chief Erik Summey and state trooper Michael Brown for the Republican nomination. The winner will face Democrat Marty Katz in the general election.

Since there are no Democrats running in November for county commissioner, the GOP primary battle for District 3 and District 4 county commissioner will decide the election. With three incumbents on the ballot, the primary could shift the board of commissioners' political makeup.

In District 3, Commissioner Larry Young faces professional engineer Bill Lapsley, and in District 4, Vice Chairman Tommy Thompson is up against retired sheriff's deputy Tim Griffin.

District 1 Commissioner Mike Edney is competing for his fourth term against two challengers, former county GOP chairman Andrew Riddle and retired General Electric worker Hogan Corn.

In the Republican primary to see who runs against Sen. Kay Hagan in November, N.C. House Speaker Thom Tillis faces a stiff challenge from Cary obstetrician Greg Brannon and Baptist minister Mark Harris of Charlotte, along with five other contenders.

Almost 5,800 Henderson County residents voted early in the primary one-stop (in person), Cunningham said, adding that several hundred more mail-in absentees will also be counted. That's roughly 1,000 more early votes than in 2010, she said, an indication that hotly contested local races are fueling more interest in primary voting.

"Normally, we have not had three contested commissioner races and the register of deeds," she said. "We've just had a few more local races than we normally have in an off-year primary."

Lake Lure administrator Shannon Baldwin, paralegal Evona Kilpatrick and tax collector Lee King are vying for the register of deeds position being vacated by the retiring Nedra Moles.

Since about 8,241 people voted on Election Day in the 2010 primary, Cunningham hopes the increased interest will generate 10,000 or 12,000 voters today.

"The weather is going to be great, so we hope the voters are going to come out and make their choices," she said.

Voters should be aware of a few Election Day changes brought about by new state laws. In the past, provisional ballots were usually accepted if a voter showed up to the wrong polling place.

Starting this election, voters must show up to their correct polling site. They can check their registration online at www.ncsbe.gov. Provisional ballots will only count for people who have recently moved.

Another change implemented by the General Assembly did away with straight ticket voting. While voters previously could select a straight Republican or Democratic ticket, they now must pick individual choices in each race. Party affiliations are still shown next to each candidate.

Although a photo ID is not required to vote in the 2014 primary, election officials will ask voters if they have one that's acceptable under a new state law. Cunningham said "we will tell them they'll need a photo ID in 2016 and give them information on how to obtain one."

Out of 5,794 early voters, only one person requested information on how to obtain a photo ID, Cunningham said. "So I'm not looking for that to be a huge problem in our county," she said.

<p>Starting at daybreak Tuesday, Henderson County voters will head to the polls to vote for a crowded field of U.S. Senate candidates, as well to pick their choices for sheriff, register of deeds, county commissioner and a North Carolina Supreme Court associate justice.</p><p>The county's 35 voting sites will open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m.</p><p>Republican voters in N.C. House District 117 will also choose whether to return N.C. Rep. Chuck McGrady to Raleigh for a third term or replace him with GOP challenger Ronnie Edwards, a retired N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles law enforcement officer. </p><p>Meanwhile, Democratic primary voters in Congressional District 11 will decide whether Barnardsville businessman Keith Ruehl or Zirconia physicist Tom Hill faces Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows in the fall.</p><p>In Henderson County, there are 23 Republicans, five Democrats and two Libertarian hopefuls running in their respective primaries, plus three non-partisan court candidates.</p><p>Four races — for U.S. Senate, sheriff, register of deeds, and District 1 commissioner — have three or more candidates, which could lead to a runoff.</p><p>"Someone has to get 40 percent or more or there's a runoff," said Board of Elections Director Beverly Cunningham. "If there's a U.S. Senate race involved, it would move everything to July 15. If it's just a county race, the runoff would be June 24."</p><p>Sheriff Charles McDonald is battling Fletcher Police Chief Erik Summey and state trooper Michael Brown for the Republican nomination. The winner will face Democrat Marty Katz in the general election.</p><p>Since there are no Democrats running in November for county commissioner, the GOP primary battle for District 3 and District 4 county commissioner will decide the election. With three incumbents on the ballot, the primary could shift the board of commissioners' political makeup.</p><p>In District 3, Commissioner Larry Young faces professional engineer Bill Lapsley, and in District 4, Vice Chairman Tommy Thompson is up against retired sheriff's deputy Tim Griffin.</p><p>District 1 Commissioner Mike Edney is competing for his fourth term against two challengers, former county GOP chairman Andrew Riddle and retired General Electric worker Hogan Corn. </p><p>In the Republican primary to see who runs against Sen. Kay Hagan in November, N.C. House Speaker Thom Tillis faces a stiff challenge from Cary obstetrician Greg Brannon and Baptist minister Mark Harris of Charlotte, along with five other contenders.</p><p>Almost 5,800 Henderson County residents voted early in the primary one-stop (in person), Cunningham said, adding that several hundred more mail-in absentees will also be counted. That's roughly 1,000 more early votes than in 2010, she said, an indication that hotly contested local races are fueling more interest in primary voting.</p><p>"Normally, we have not had three contested commissioner races and the register of deeds," she said. "We've just had a few more local races than we normally have in an off-year primary."</p><p>Lake Lure administrator Shannon Baldwin, paralegal Evona Kilpatrick and tax collector Lee King are vying for the register of deeds position being vacated by the retiring Nedra Moles.</p><p>Since about 8,241 people voted on Election Day in the 2010 primary, Cunningham hopes the increased interest will generate 10,000 or 12,000 voters today. </p><p>"The weather is going to be great, so we hope the voters are going to come out and make their choices," she said.</p><p>Voters should be aware of a few Election Day changes brought about by new state laws. In the past, provisional ballots were usually accepted if a voter showed up to the wrong polling place. </p><p>Starting this election, voters must show up to their correct polling site. They can check their registration online at www.ncsbe.gov. Provisional ballots will only count for people who have recently moved.</p><p>Another change implemented by the General Assembly did away with straight ticket voting. While voters previously could select a straight Republican or Democratic ticket, they now must pick individual choices in each race. Party affiliations are still shown next to each candidate. </p><p>Although a photo ID is not required to vote in the 2014 primary, election officials will ask voters if they have one that's acceptable under a new state law. Cunningham said "we will tell them they'll need a photo ID in 2016 and give them information on how to obtain one."</p><p>Out of 5,794 early voters, only one person requested information on how to obtain a photo ID, Cunningham said. "So I'm not looking for that to be a huge problem in our county," she said.</p><p>___</p><p><b>Reach Axtell at 828-694-7860 or than.axtell@blueridgenow.com.</b></p>